http://www.gore-tex.com/remote/Satellite/content/care-center/washing-instructions

You could try to wash your GoreTex at home with NixWax or Revivex product, don't use a powdered laundry soap, and see if that helps. Generally, wash only one or two items at a time with NixWax.

 

From what I have read and heard, you should never dry clean Gor-Tex fabric, or have it Scotch Guarded, Scotch Guard would clog the breathable pores in the fabric. I could be wrong but don't think so. I have a 10X suit that I bought 30 years ago and have always washed it and treated it with ReVive-X, and it still repels water and I fell like it still breaths. My old Simms Guide jacket has been treated the same way and it has the lining almost worn out and it still works just fine. As Reg said you may be able to bring back some of the suits usefulness by washing and treating it with an approved method.

D

 

I have had old Goretex just fall apart, but it was usually like 8-10 years old. It came right apart and left little white flakes all over the washer. The shell was fine, just not Gore-Tex anymore LOL.
I use these products. I am outdoors every day, 365 days a year and am quite satisfied with the way this preserves and revives Gore........[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Nikwax-Tech-Wash-Direct-Pack/dp/B000PGOOIS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1415743628&sr=8-1&keywords=nikwax"]Amazon.com : Nikwax Tech Wash & TX. Direct Duo Pack : Hunting Cleaning And Maintenance Products : Clothing@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/512bRe-RcHL.@@AMEPARAM@@512bRe-RcHL[/ame]

 

My Army issued Gortex water proof boots would wear out, they were 100% waterproof for a while then the Gortex would wear and water would start to seep in eventually. My Gortex jackets have never worn out though, been wearing my BDU Gortex and ACU Gortex for years worth no leaks.


Sent from my iPhone using Ohub Campfire

 

Try what you want, if it breaths, it will leak with heavy rain and or high wind. IMHO don't waste your $$ on the wash stuff as for me it never worked. If it doesn't breath, you sweat.
But that is my experience with hundreds spent on many of the high end suits time and time again. This is only in extreme weather and fishing/running for hours thru tourney's. Just regular fishing, never a problem.
To answer your question, over time yes any suit will not keep you dry like you'd expect.

 

Thanks guys, especially REG. I followed the link and then things started to make sense. I only use this outfit 7 - 10 days a year and can't remember the last time I had an issue with the outer fabric getting wet.
The outer fabric must have soaked up water and then felt cold to me as my body heat tried to heat the water through the Goretex. I was on the pier about 12 hours in the rain and took water in the face and down the front of my jacket and my sleeves and pant legs must have wicked water up inside so I was wet and cold and just panicked a little.
I think if I just revive the water proofing (DWR) it will be as good as new.
Thanks again,
FF

 

I just ordered this from McNett.

https://www.mcnett.com/gearaid/durable-waterproofing#36230

They claim it is their latest and greatest and replaces there other products.

I believe this forms little droplets that will repel the water but not form a film. If it formed a continuous film then it couldn't breath.

Thanks again,
FF

 

I recalled an article written by a friend, Zach Mathews, that covers almost everything you want to know about breathable fabrics. This article, Breathing Underwater, goes way deep into the subject. What really struck me is his information on 'wetting out' of the shell material.
I sure hope this helps!
http://www.itinerantangler.com/blog/podcasts/2006/07/26/article_breathing_underwater/

 

Jackster,

Great article. Explains everything that someone really needs to know about breathable fabrics, and fishing clothing.

Thanks,
D

 

Same here, Jackster. Nice read.

 

Putting it in the dryer on heat will melt the Gore tex membrane inside. Learned that one the hard way.

 

yes, absolutely

 

Great article. Thanks for the information Jackster1.

Tight lines,
FF

 

I just ordered this from McNett.

https://www.mcnett.com/gearaid/durable-waterproofing#36230

They claim it is their latest and greatest and replaces there other products.

I believe this forms little droplets that will repel the water but not form a film. If it formed a continuous film then it couldn't breath.

Thanks again,
FF

My $500 Remington rain parka & bibs lost their DWR over 20 years. The inner Gore-Tex membrane still kept the water from getting me wet, but the outer shell soaked up the water, gained weight & got cold. I bought the same Revivex you did (large size) & applied as directed & after drying put it in the dryer for 15 minutes. The water now just beads up & rolls off, like new.

Most people don't realize the Gore-Tex membrane is still working when the outer DWR wears out.

 

I once wore a army surplus gore-tex parka while fishing with a buddy on a Maine lake in a steady rain. By mid morning I was so thoroughly soaked that I was getting close to hypothermic while my buddy who was wearing Frog Togs remained dry as a bone. Since then I don't trust Gore-tex anymore.

 

My $500 Remington rain parka & bibs lost their DWR over 20 years. The inner Gore-Tex membrane still kept the water from getting me wet, but the outer shell soaked up the water, gained weight & got cold. I bought the same Revivex you did (large size) & applied as directed & after drying put it in the dryer for 15 minutes. The water now just beads up & rolls off, like new.

Most people don't realize the Gore-Tex membrane is still working when the outer DWR wears out.

Thanks for the encouraging words Steveh27. I definitely was confused and panicked when I got cold on the Manistee pier in my suit. The suit has been basically bulletproof so I don't even worry about getting wet or cold but I guess I washed it one too many times because the outer fabric soaked up water like a sponge. I think what added to my confusion is that the waves hit me in the face and went down my neck and the standing puddles got soaked up by my pants under the suit. So, I could see and feel that I was wet but didn't realize the Gore Tex was still working.
I can hardly wait to restore that suit because it looks like Ice Fishing is coming fast!

Tight lines,
FF

 

just a fyi,shoes and boots that have a gortex membrane are only rated to last up to a year with use the constant movement wears the membrane out faster

 

my gore-tex is 25 years old & only leaked through the hole in the top; just like waders. I have had to replace the liner a couple of times due to contact with the vent stack on the shanty stove when worn separately. I had to replace it due to the fact that it has grown a little snug the last couple years, it now serves my nephew well, I replaced it with Cabela's Guidewear & so far so good. Columbia Quad parka, my old one is better made than a new one.

 

my gore-tex is 25 years old & only leaked through the hole in the top; just like waders. I have had to replace the liner a couple of times due to contact with the vent stack on the shanty stove when worn separately. I had to replace it due to the fact that it has grown a little snug the last couple years, it now serves my nephew well, I replaced it with Cabela's Guidewear & so far so good. Columbia Quad parka, my old one is better made than a new one.

My buddy has an old Columbia suit that has to be 20 years old. He still wears it, and still keeps him dry in a downpour. With that said, if you fish in an environment where your going to constantly get hit with waves/water, spend the money on a really good parka/jacket, and where waders underneath. Dryest way to go.

 

From what I have read and heard, you should never dry clean Gor-Tex fabric, or have it Scotch Guarded, Scotch Guard would clog the breathable pores in the fabric. I could be wrong but don't think so. I have a 10X suit that I bought 30 years ago and have always washed it and treated it with ReVive-X, and it still repels water and I fell like it still breaths. My old Simms Guide jacket has been treated the same way and it has the lining almost worn out and it still works just fine. As Reg said you may be able to bring back some of the suits usefulness by washing and treating it with an approved method.

D

OK, for starters, I'm a retired expert on fluoropolymers and fluorochemicals (Gore Tex is expanded PTFE, and Scotchguard is a fluorochemical). I spent the first 27 years of my career with a major mfr of PTFE, a direct supplier to WL Gore, and the last 12 with a fluorochemical and fluoropolymer mfr.

The water resistance of your "Gore Tex" garment is provided by an encapsulated membrane of expanded PTFE film; in other words, a thin layer of this Gore Tex membrane is incorporated into the garment and provides a barrier against liquid water (the micropores in the membrane will allow individual molecules of water (vapor) to pass through, but not water in the liquid state (agglomerations of molecules are much larger); hence the miracle of "Gore Tex". I would agree with the recommendations on the WL Gore website for cleaning and maintaining your garment's water repellency performance.
"Scotchguard" is a spray-on surface treatment for consumer usage, (not to be confused with the fully incorporated products used within fibers spun for carpet), and as just that does not have any effect on the Gore Tex water repellent layer underneath that outer fabric. It can be effective for soil and stain resistance when applied properly, but it's effectiveness will diminish over time and disappear with any washings.

It sounds like you have had some very good luck with the performance of your older garments, most likely due to good handling and proper cleaning methods. I also have an old duck hunting jacket that I purchased in 1979, and it too still breathes and repels water. WL Gore's invention does exactly what it is supposed to do, and will continue to do, if we just take a little extra care before, during, and after the season.

Jay

PS. just one quick comment on Gore Tex: it is 100% virgin PTFE and has no contaminants in the film at all. Because PTFE is essentially "inert" and completely unaffected by anything you might get into, it will be here for ages and ages to come. The Gore Tex membrane will work as long as we don't introduce some contaminant (like dirt) and "clog" the micropores. I would imagine that smoke particles don't help, so I personally would recommend not smoking or sitting around the campfire, or hanging the garment near a fireplace or smoky woodstove too often. Of course, with the proper cleaning, any of these types of dirt particles can be removed to restore the membrance to it's virgin state and full performance.

 

I know it's gross, but I rarely wash my gortex. Its seems it's never 100% afterward and I've tried many companies.

I take a bucket with dish soap and just hand wash areas that may often get hit with fish slime, ect. then rinse with the hose and hang dry.

Plus driers and washing machienes tend to screw up velcro as well. Hope this helps, tight lines!

 

Wow, I never thought my crazy question would have gotten such a great response. This thread has certainly proved to be one of the most education that I have ever read. Thanks for all the informative replies. I am pretty confident that I understand Gore Tex and will be able to care for it properly from now on.

Tight Lines,
FF

 

just wanna put my 2 cents in,both of my femoral arterys are gore tex hoses,,,so I hope they last,been about 8 yr now

 

DoubleJay, you explained why my first generation Gore-Tex foul weather gear leaked like a sieve in the rain. I paid a pretty penny for it believing all the hype I read. In the rain the orange gear turned blue (the color of the inner liner) and was about as effective as a flannel shirt. I wrote the manufacturer about it and they hooked me up with another suit. When that leaked they told me to contact Gore who told me sweat on the early stuff contaminated the pores but that issue was resolved and they sent me a half-price discount on other gear. That stuff worked.
Do I recall correctly that Gore-Tex was originally made as a second skin for burn victims?

Scotch Guard. I used to use that to pre-treat my dry flies and keep them floating. They did a color change of the spray cans and made changes to the make-up of Scotch Guard at the same time to the best of my knowledge. I think it was the green cans that worked so well but after the switch the new, reconfigured stuff just didn't seem as effective. Am I remembering this all correctly or is it just my over-active imagination working overtime?
Thanks.

 

UPDATE

I finally treated my Gore Tex hunting suit.

I went to the Gore Tex site and got the instructions and then got REVIVEX Pro cleaner and REVIVIEX Durable Water Proofing.
I washed the suit in the cleaner. I had to let it drip for awhile since the outer fabric was soaked and the suit felt like it weighed 10 lbs. I dried it about half way in the dryer, let it cool and then treated it water proofing. Let that air dry for 30 minutes and then back in the dryer at med heat. Dried it completely and it is just like brand new. The water just about bounces off the surface and the colors look amazing. Thanks for all the advice and hope this helps some one else too.
Tight lines, FF